Sidewalks on Pinetree Drive

Decatur is widely considered the most walkable city in the state of Georgia and is a Silver Level Walk Friendly Community. Through its Community Transportation Plan and other planning documents, Decatur frequently boasts of its commitment to having a sidewalk on every one of its streets. While it has made great strides toward this goal, gaps in the sidewalk network remain.

As a street considered a “cut through” by many motorists, the lack of a sidewalk on Pinetree Drive poses a hazard for pedestrians that needs to be addressed. During 10 months of the year, school children who live on Pinetree Drive have no choice but to walk in the street to their school bus stop, among rush hour traffic, and often wait in low visibility conditions due to the dim light of dusk and the sloping and curved topography. In addition to brisk traffic, Pinetree Drive sees significant parking at both ends of the street throughout the year, forcing pedestrians further into the street and closer to passing vehicles. On a regular basis, families attending Sunday services and other events at St. Thomas More and First Christian Church of Decatur, as well as weekend patrons of downtown restaurants and bars, park along the east end of Pinetree Drive while those utilizing Venetian Pools line the streets on the west end.